Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Utah State volleyball lost a four-set decision at San Diego State on Saturday afternoon, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-14. The loss was the third straight for the Aggies and the fourth straight defeat on the road as USU moved to 12-10 on the year and 4-6 in league play. San Diego State improved to 11-12 and 5-5 in the Mountain West with the victory.

Senior outside Lauren Anderson was the lone Aggie with double-digit kills, leading the team with 10. Utah State's middles were the most efficient as junior Lauren O'Brien logged seven kills, hitting .333 (7-2-15), and freshman Bailey Downing tallied five, also hitting .333 (5-1-12). The duo also led the Aggies with six and four blocks, respectively.

Junior libero Tasia Taylor led both teams with a match-high 15 digs and junior setter Kassidy Johnson recorded 35 assists on 39 Utah State kills. Overall, USU hit .172 (39-19-116) to San Diego State's .207 (60-30-145).

Utah State fought off three consecutive San Diego State set points in the opening set, making a late run with the score 24-18 and coming to within three, 24-21. Kills by senior outside Rachel Gale-Hammond and an ace by senior opposite Kayla DeCoursey highlighted the run and prompted a San Diego State timeout. The Aztecs came out of the break and recorded a kill to wrap up the set, 25-21.

Utah State fought off another three set points in the second set, trailing 24-20 before coming back to within one, 24-23. Kills by O'Brien and DeCoursey started and ended the run and led to another timeout by San Diego State at the end of a set. Coming out of the break, Utah State came close to tying the match at 24-24, blocking the Aztecs' first attempt, but San Diego State was able to capture the set 25-23 with a kill off of a second effort.

Utah State scored the first point of the third set and led throughout most of the frame. San Diego State had its only lead of the set at 19-18, capping a three-point run by the home side after having fallen behind, 18-16. The Aggies countered with a 7-2 run down the stretch and punctuated the set, 25-21, behind a block by Johnson and Downing.

The fourth set got away from the Aggies as Utah State hit .000 (7-7-25) to San Diego State's .318 (11-4-22), opening the door for the Aztecs to lead start-to-finish in the eventual 25-14 final.

San Diego State was led by a trio with double-digit kills in Ashlynn Dunbar with 16, Alexis Cage with 13 and Hannah Turnlund with 12. Deja Harris paced the Aztec block with eight as SDSU recorded 14.0 to Utah State's 10.5.

USU will be back in action next week with a pair of home matches, hosting New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m., followed by UNLV on Saturday, Oct. 28, at noon.

Fans can also follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at USUVolleyball or on Instagram at @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.

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